France, Ghana to deepen partnership
As part of her resolve to find new ways of cooperation, France has expressed its determination to build a stronger and dynamic relationship with Ghana for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
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Such a partnership will not only impact the present generation, but also become a legacy for the future. The French Ambassador to Ghana, Jule Armand Aniambossou, said his country had chosen to deepen partnership with Ghana because cooperation must mutually be beneficial to parties who come to the table on their strengths.
He mentioned some of the areas in which the partnership was being strengthened to include economic and business, development, cultural, education, sports and Artificial Intelligence.
“Historically, Ghana does not have ties with France, but has been an important ally for many years and France is determined to maintain that relationship. “Now, our focus is to build a fair and frank partnership that will benefit both parties,” Mr Aniambossou said.
The ambassador was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic ahead of the commemoration of French National Day which falls on July 14, 2024.
The ambassador also said that France considered Ghana a priority for the role the latter was playing in resolving common challenges and also providing the needed environment for relationships to thrive.
He said the foundation for economic partnership was laid more than 40 years ago when the Agence France Development (AFD), an agency charged with supporting the development interest of France, set up its first non-francophone overseas office in Ghana.
The ambassador said the initiative had since led to the development of a rubber production industry in the Western Region.
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Also, France has provided support to GridCo to improve power supply to Kumasi, as well as construction of roads in the south eastern part of the Kumasi Metropolitan Area.
Additionally, it has helped rehabilitate the Atonsu, Asawasi and Tafo markets.
In the northern part of Ghana, one of the priority areas in the cooperation was partnering the European Union to provide grants to support agriculture which is the mainstay of the people.
"France in supporting the EU, has provided €45million to support women in shea butter production. "We are doing this in consultation with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Ministry of Agriculture, and the focus for this cooperation is also to promote entrepreneurship and empowerment," Mr Aniambossou added.
The ambassador further said that in recent times, many French universities had expressed interest in partnering universities in Ghana, particularly the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), for exchange programmes.
"Under such programmes, students from France will come to Ghana and vice versa to pursue various programmes. "CAMPUS France is doing well in Ghana, facilitating the universities' partnership, especially with the University of Lille.
"The intention is for action and results oriented programmes which will be pragmatic and beneficial to all," he said.
International relations
Mr Aniambossou said on the political front, France wanted to involve Ghana much more in international initiatives. He said through discussions, Ghana was committed to the Paris Plan for People and the Planet, adding that "we encouraged the Ghana government to do more and they did by taking part in the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) programme which took place in Paris last month.
"In all these, it shows the premium and priority France places on her relationship with Ghana.
“We cherish this relationship because Ghana is a pacesetter and has always played a lead role in helping to solve the common challenges of our environment," the French ambassador added.